02701A - Manager, R&D

Summary: The Manager, Research & Development (R&D) is responsible for leading product innovation, formulation development, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role oversees the development of new bakery products, reformulation of existing products, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure products meet quality, regulatory, and customer requirements.
Responsibilities:

Lead new product development from concept to commercialization.
Develop and reformulate bakery mixes, fillings, icings, frozen doughs, and related products.
Manage R&D projects, timelines, and documentation.
Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Quality Assurance teams to align product strategy with market needs.
Conduct bench-top trials, plant trials, and scale-up production runs.
Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, labeling standards, and industry guidelines.
Monitor ingredient trends, cost optimization opportunities, and competitive products.
Oversee sensory evaluations and product performance testing.
Manage and mentor R&D team members.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Food Technology, or related field (master’s preferred).
5+ years of experience in bakery product development.
Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, dough systems, and baking processes.
Experience with regulatory compliance (FDA, labeling requirements, etc.).
Proven project management and leadership experience